COLUMN: Steady defense has Battlehawks in playoffs

St. Louis Battlehawks defensive back Kameron Kelly walks towards the fans after defeating the DC Defenders on Sunday, May 19, in St. Louis.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Even though the St. Louis Battlehawks have proven to be the superior team in all but two games this season, the games have remained close and still required heroic moments from their defense.

“We all believe in each other,” said Battlehawks free safety Qwynnterrio Cole, who led the team with eight tackles and an interception. “We’re all we got. We’re all we need.”

St. Louis’ playoff-clinching 26-21 win over the DC Defenders on Sunday, May 19 still required the defense to hold the line in the final drive. Linebacker Willie Harvey sacked Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu and knocked him out of the game. His backup completed a pass but the Battlehawks defense forced a fumble to end the drive.

“I just love moments like this,” Harvey said. “This is what defines us.”

Regardless of whether AJ McCarron or Manny Wilkins is leading the offense, the defense has been steady, deadly, and keeping the Battlehawks among the UFL elite. It took the league’s lone undefeated team to score 30 points on them.

The defense held DC to two field goals in the first half but allowed the Defenders to take the lead twice in the second half. The offense kept the pace and eventually got ahead late in the fourth quarter, and the defense didn’t break no matter how many times they bent.

“We knew it was gonna be a war. We knew it was gonna be physical,” Rose said. “Sometimes as a defense, you just got to weather the storm a little bit and adjust as the game goes on.”

Harvey (57) and Cole (54) lead the Battlehawks in tackles, while Cole, Mike Rose, and Kameron Kelly are among the only five defensive players in the league with 2+ interceptions. Pita Taumoepenu is among the league’s top 10 in sacks with five.

With these guys leading the defense, close games don’t feel like the nail-biters that they’re supposed to be.

“We feel comfortable with the game in our hands at the end of the game,” Rose said. “We had some big plays from my partner in crime Willie and we were able to do it. Having it in your hands at the end of games is all you can ask for.”

Now that both the Battlehawks and San Antonio Brahmas are slated to play in the XFL Championship Game, all that is left is who will host the game. Both teams are 6-2 and will play each other one more time in Week 10 on June 1, but the Battlehawks won the first game.

With the Brahmas taking on the 8-0 Birmingham Stallions and Battlehawks facing the 1-7 Arlington Renegades on Saturday, May 25. This matter might be secured before the rematch, which would be in the league’s best interest.

Battlehawks games set the spring football record with 40,317 in attendance at the home opener. With every home game going up against the St. Louis Cardinals and sometimes St. Louis City SC, The Battlehawks average 31-32,000 fans a week, while other teams struggle to get half as much.

It’s why the UFL put their championship game in St. Louis and with the Battlehawks potentially hosting both playoff games, Harvey expects to see a new spring attendance record.

“We’ll probably have 50-60,000 or so,” Harvey said.

Even though the Renegades are one the worst teams in the league, it took a last-minute field goal to win at home. Blowouts can’t be expected in the UFL, which means a lot will be required out of the defense.

Which is alright by them.